Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government is optimistic that it will meet its subsidized fuel quota of 46 million kiloliters as set in the revised 2014 stage budget, a deputy minister said.

Deputy Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Susilo Siswoutomo said here on Friday subsidized fuel consumption between January 1 and April 30, 2014, was 15 million kiloliters.

"In the four months, subsidized fuel oil consumption was Rp15 million kiloliters. So, if the figure is multiplied by three, plus one million kiloliters (to anticipate increased consumption during the post-fasting month of Lebaran and the Christmas holiday festivities), consumption will rise to 46 million kiloliters," he added.

The deputy minister asserted that the government will continue implementing the ongoing subsidized fuel consumption control programs to achieve its quota target of 46 million kiloliters.

He said the program covered the banning of official vehicles from using subsidized fuels, particularly in the mining, plantation and sea transportation sectors (non-smallholders and non-pioneering shipping).

Other programs include fuel-to-gas conversion, tight consumption supervision by the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulator (BPH Migas) and the reduction in the use of subsidized fuel nozzles.

"We will reduce in stages the number of subsidized fuel nozzles, such as in toll roads and in big cities, so that the use of subsidized fuel will also be cut," he added.

Based on the ministry of energy and mineral resources document, the governments target is to save about 460 thousand kiloliters of subsidized fuel, equivalent to Rp1.37 trillion.

The volume of 460 thousand kiloliters comprises 150 thousand kiloliters of premium gasoline and 310 thousand kiloliters of subsidized diesel oil.

Based on the revised 2014 state budget, the allocation of subsidized fuels is 46 million kiloliters, consisting of 29.43 million kiloliters of premium gasoline, 900 thousand kiloliters of kerosene and 15.67 million kiloliters of diesel oil.

Meanwhile, based on the 2014 state budget, the allocation of subsidized fuels is 48 million kiloliters, consisting of 32.46 million kiloliters of premium gasoline, 900 thousand kiloliters of kerosene and 14.64 million kiloliters of diesel oil.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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